Several barker channels exist on
digital cable systems, and especially on
direct broadcast satellite systems such as
DirecTV. On
interactive television systems, these also allow for
ordering of
pay-per-view program selections or other
pay television services. Prior to its 2008 purchase by
Lions Gate Entertainment and subsequent conversion into a general entertainment channel (eventually leading to its rebranding as
Pop in January 2015), the TV Guide Network – along with featuring listings for upcoming programs – functioned essentially as a barker channel with film and program descriptions. During its years as
Prevue Guide/Channel, it served as a barker channel outright, incorporating video
program promotions and short-form
film trailers at the top half of the screen. In its Prevue incarnation, the channel operated a sister barker service,
Sneak Prevue, which provided information on pay-per-view programming along with ordering information, which utilized a commercial form of the consumer
LaserDisc format for each provider to run video and purchase content airing over the channel; the service operated until 2002 (three years after its parent network evolved into the TV Guide Channel), as a result of the rise in in-house barker channels operated by pay-per-view services to promote their content. Barker channels are normally
free-to-view or occasionally
free-to-air, even without a
subscription; this also indicates success in the installation of satellite systems, and particularly in aiming small
satellite dishes. An example of a barker channel is the NBA League Pass Preview Channel, which is used to advertise and promote the
NBA League Pass out-of-market sports package available to digital cable and satellite systems. In a technical form,
specialty channels focused on a single sport such as
NBA TV,
NFL Network,
NHL Network and
MLB Network could be considered barkers, which may push devoted viewers into ordering those leagues' respective pay-per-view packages to watch complete game broadcasts. In some occasions, the barker method is used on
radio stations, looping 30 to 60 second messages leading to a pending
format change, a process called "
stunting".
Sirius XM also contains an always-open barker channel encouraging a new vehicle buyer to activate a
satellite radio subscription, and off-hours, its sports play-by-play channels carry a looping track promoting the channel locations of that day's games. ==See also==